WORSHIP (pt.1)WORSHIP (pt.1)“The Focus Of Worship”“The Focus Of Worship”

INTRODUCTION:INTRODUCTION:(1.)(1.)Matthew 14:22-33Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus walks on water to get to the Jesus walks on water to get to the disciples in the storm.disciples in the storm. -vs.29 Peter walks on water to meet Jesus.-vs.29 Peter walks on water to meet Jesus. -vs.30 Peter takes his focus off Jesus and starts to sink.-vs.30 Peter takes his focus off Jesus and starts to sink. *Peter is a representation of the church (Matthew 16:18).*Peter is a representation of the church (Matthew 16:18). *Today’s church, like Peter, has taken our focus off Jesus; *Today’s church, like Peter, has taken our focus off Jesus; and we are sinking especially in the area of Worship!and we are sinking especially in the area of Worship! *We care more about HOW we worship (us being the *We care more about HOW we worship (us being the focus) focus) than WHO we worship (God being the focus).than WHO we worship (God being the focus).

WORSHIP (pt.1)WORSHIP (pt.1)“The Focus Of Worship”“The Focus Of Worship”BODY:BODY:

(2.)WORHSIP IS NOT ABOUT US; (2.)WORHSIP IS NOT ABOUT US; WORSHIP IS ABOUT GOD!WORSHIP IS ABOUT GOD! -The first 4 of the 10 Commandments deal with our vertical -The first 4 of the 10 Commandments deal with our vertical worship to God and our vertical relationship with God.worship to God and our vertical relationship with God. -The last 6 of the 10 Commandments deal with our -The last 6 of the 10 Commandments deal with our horizontal relationship with mankind.horizontal relationship with mankind. -My vertical worship to God provokes my horizontal service -My vertical worship to God provokes my horizontal service to mankind.to mankind. *The sign of a true worshipper is somebody who’s able to *The sign of a true worshipper is somebody who’s able to get along with other people.get along with other people. *We make a lot of noise in church, but are we really *We make a lot of noise in church, but are we really worshipping? Do we get along with each other?worshipping? Do we get along with each other?

WORSHIP (pt.1)WORSHIP (pt.1)“The Focus Of Worship”“The Focus Of Worship”BODY:BODY:

(3.)WORHSIP IS NOT ABOUT US; (3.)WORHSIP IS NOT ABOUT US; WORSHIP IS ABOUT GOD!WORSHIP IS ABOUT GOD! --THE FIRST 4 COMMANDMENTS:THE FIRST 4 COMMANDMENTS: **Exodus 20:3Exodus 20:3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” #Worship involves putting God first.#Worship involves putting God first. **Exodus 20:4-5Exodus 20:4-5 ‘Thou shalt not make, bow down to, or ‘Thou shalt not make, bow down to, or serve any graven image.’serve any graven image.’ #God forbids idol/false worship.#God forbids idol/false worship. **Exodus 20:7Exodus 20:7 ‘Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy ‘Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.’God in vain.’ #Worship has to do with the name of God; who he is.#Worship has to do with the name of God; who he is. **Exodus 20:8Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy.” “Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy.” #Worship involves setting aside a day to honor God & rest.#Worship involves setting aside a day to honor God & rest.

WORSHIP (pt.1)WORSHIP (pt.1)“The Focus Of Worship”“The Focus Of Worship”BODY:BODY:(4.)(4.)WHAT IS WORSHIP?WHAT IS WORSHIP? (A.)The Old Testament is written in Hebrew.(A.)The Old Testament is written in Hebrew. *The primary Hebrew word for Worship is “Shacah.” *The primary Hebrew word for Worship is “Shacah.” *Shacah- to prostrate or bow down *Shacah- to prostrate or bow down in reverence to a in reverence to a superior.superior. -Worship is -Worship is acknowledgingacknowledging God as superior God as superior and deeply and deeply reverencingreverencing God God for that. for that. (B.)The New Testament is written primarily in Greek.(B.)The New Testament is written primarily in Greek. *The primary Greek word for Worship is “proskuneo.”*The primary Greek word for Worship is “proskuneo.” *Proskuneo- a towards kiss (like a dog licking his master’s *Proskuneo- a towards kiss (like a dog licking his master’s hand) hand) indicating adoration & intimacyindicating adoration & intimacy (closeness to God). (closeness to God).Worship is Worship is acknowledging Godacknowledging God as superior, as superior, reverencing Godreverencing God as superior, as superior, adoring Godadoring God as superior, and as superior, and drawing close to drawing close to GodGod as superior. as superior.

WORSHIP (pt.1)WORSHIP (pt.1)“The Focus Of Worship”“The Focus Of Worship”

CLOSE:CLOSE:(5.)(5.)The difference between a Demon & a Christian:The difference between a Demon & a Christian: --Mark 5:6Mark 5:6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him…KJV --Mark 5:6Mark 5:6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. ESV --Mark 5:6Mark 5:6 Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him…NASB *When the legion of demons bowed down to Jesus, they *When the legion of demons bowed down to Jesus, they were were acknowledginacknowledging his superiority; g his superiority; BUT THEY WERE NOTBUT THEY WERE NOT adoringadoring Jesus (this kept it from being worship). Jesus (this kept it from being worship). *Christians *Christians acknowledgeacknowledge “AND”“AND” adoreadore Jesus Christ the king. Jesus Christ the king.